Solace

Chapter 10

"Hasi tum..tum iss shadi ke liye mana kardo.", Karishma said, not breaking the eye contact. Her voice was trembling unknowingly. "Woh admi sahi nahi hai tumhare liye", she continued. Haseena was shocked for a moment as she wasn't expecting this conversation.

"Hasi, tum sun rahi ho meri baat?" Karishma asked being restless. She was losing her patience with every passing second.

"Apko kaise pata chala?", Haseena asked, trying to read her expressions. She thought Karishma would be furious but she looked more worried than angry.

"Tum woh sab chodo. Jo mai bol rahi hu woh suno", she replied.

"Lekin Karishma..achanak ap aisa kyu bol rahi hai. Maltab kya hum wajah jaan sakte hai?" Haseena asked the obvious question.

She called someone, "Hello...ek kam hai tumhare liye. Kisike baare mein pata karwana hai. Nam bhej rahi hu, sarkari naukri karta hai so it shouldn't be difficult to find out", Karishma instructed someone over a phone call.

"Sure mam. I will let you know as soon as possible", someone replied from the other side.

"Hasi, tumhe bharosa hai na mujhpar? You know I will always protect you, right?" Karishma asked holding her hand tightly.

Haseena blinked her eyes as yes. Of course she trusted Karishma, more than herself, more than anyone.

"To phir meri baat manlo aur iss rishte se inkar kar do. Agar tumse nahi hota toh mai jake baat karti hu", Karishma said.

"Nahi ap maat jaiye. Hum toh waise bhi Adeel se iss bare mein baat karne wale the", Haseena informed.

"Kis baare mein!" Karishma asked.

"Iss rishte ke bare mein. Hume laga bohut jaldi ho raha hai yeh sab", she replied.

Suddenly something crossed Karishma's mind and she went, "Ha toh tum itna saj dhaj ke unke samne jaogi toh woh to bohrahi jayega, jaldbazi to karni hi hai saalo ko."

"Kuch bhi", Haseena said. "Hum itne bhi koi hoor ki pari nahi hai jo har koi dekhte hi humpe marr mitee", she added.

"Oh you would be surprised", Karishma whispered somewhat involuntarily.

"Huh?", Haseena asked not being able to hear her properly.

"Maine kaha har koi nahi bhi mare woh admi zaroor mar raha tha tumpe. Kaise close jake baat kar raha tha", Karishma chided saying the last sentence.

"Toh ap ne kaal dekha tha hume!", Haseena was surprised to see Karishma this calm. She knew how possessive Karishma was about her. She wouldn't let anyone even sit beside Haseena during school days.

"Ji, warna tum toh mujhe kuch bataogi nahi. After all mai koun hoti hu jo tum mujhse baatein share karogi!", Karishma complained. Haseena amusingly looked at the baby in a grown up woman's body.

"Karishma", she softly said. "Please naraz maat ho. Hum apko tension nahi dena chahte the bas," Haseena tried to convince her. Karishma looked at her and pulled her for a hug.

"Par mai kaise tension na leti, you know how important you are to me right?", she mumbled against Haseena's shoulder.

"I do. But do you know how important you are to me?" Haseena said caressing her hair.
"Hmm", Karishma replied, lost in the warmth that Haseena's embrace provided. Being this close to Haseena she could smell her jasmine like fragrance.

"Nahi. Agar pata hota toh ap apna khayal rakhti, aise bhukhe pet office nahi ja rahi hoti nahi adhi raat ko ghar wapis lout ti", Haseena scolded her breaking the hug. Karishma pouted instantly as she could no longer feel the warmth.